[ He was, but only for himself. He made sure that he looked proper and prim even though he lacked sleep and drank almost every night. Still went about being functional, if not overly functional and capable despite dissociating through competence. It is one of his strengths to work through any burden.
But then his soul took the appearance of his 19-22 yo self, so he was less prissy about appearance. ]
What I said earlier wasn't an invitation for that kind of play.
[ Jacopo will be checking he has everything from keys to wallet, but Claude can kind that he does have sandals. ]
[ He was prissy in personality, but not really in practice. ]
You're the one with your mind in the gutter, Riegan.
[ a mental smack smack to the wrist bad boy Jacopo knows what it is against his will... Maria and the girls used to talk about their clients and their tastes, but he does mean playing house. Innocent.
With everything in his pocket, he slips into his boat shoes and opens the door. ]
[ He can tell the car looks sleek. Though all cars look sleek and impressive to him.
Takes a moment to just walk around the car and take in what it looks like, the design and the construction... As much as he can understand just by looking at it. ]
The future is very clean.
[ Neatly paved roads and hard floor. There's no dirt, dust and grime to sneak everywhere and onto everything. ]
Waits to climb into the car. ]
Your old life must seem far away, being in circumstances so different now.
... I suppose it is when comparing to the middle ages.
[ Jacopo doesn't feel that it's clean. If anything, he thinks Paris is kind of dirty, but if he were to compare to back in the day... Then yeah. You don't see rotting bodies spreading disease on the streets here. He's so used to his current life now.
With a push of a button, the car beeps to show it's unlocked. He sidles into the right side on the driver's seat and waits for Claude to settle in. The inside is sleek as the outside and it smells New Car, which should be an interesting scent for Claude. ]
It does. I don't weigh lives to sacrifice for progress anymore. [ GOOD TIMES. ] Some things... Are similar, but in parallels. Far less grave at least. I work my job, I come home, repeat.
But yes, he gets in the car. Most everything is a new smell to him, so this is also a new... leather smell. He's looking curiously at the displays and the buttons, and is not going to put on his seatbelt because why would he. ]
I'm glad that you're no longer trapped in difficult circumstances. [ Putting his attention to Jacopo now. ] Which you don't need to feel bad about, by the way.
[ Just in case he is. He hasn't yet forgotten the apology, and he doesn't want any unnecessary guilt weighing his friend down. ]
I hope you do something other than work though. Don't you have more free time with your fewer responsibilities?
Put on your seat belt. Car accidents can be fatal.
[ Demonstrates for him by fastening his own. Stay safe, Claude. He isn't going to belt you unless you really struggle. ]
It weighs as it should. [ He's hyper-aware of all the bad he caused while paving for good. Some of it he can reconcile, some he still shoulders. Such is life in politics, but he seems to be all right. Not as dour as before. Most himself than when he was Lord.
Placing a hand on the steering wheel, he taps it a couple of times. ]
I have a couple of hobbies and when I worked in Italy I did spend time with my friends. [ SOMETHING, RIGHT? ] Less so here. I've been very busy with work.
[ Imagine being a king of a whole nation and dying in a car accident because you didn't seatbelt.
It's time to drive. It's very smooth, though they must share the road with other cars. The sun is at the level where it's beaming them, but Jacopo puts on sunglasses that are in his car and he pulls down the sun visor for Claude's side of the car. ]
To put it simply, I work in an industry that handles land and the property on it. [ Oh, realty. Hopefully, that's enough for Claude to surmise why it takes so long. There are complexities. ] So, no. Not saving lives, just dealing with annoying affluent clients.
[ once upon a time they were both annoying rich people, but now it's just Claude ]
[ Jacopo looks so cool right now. Like he's about to star in the rustic Italian movie, Call Me By My Name or whatever.
Claude's focus shifts out the window as soon as they're out of the parking lot, taking in the sights of the city, noting the traffic laws. The architecture and pretty much everything else. Paris is old enough that not all of it is completely foreign to him. He'd probably be extremely overwhelmed in like... New York. ]
Property, hm? So you're back in civil service.
[ He figures that there are no longer monarchies, but assumes that land is still managed by the government. Though it'd have to be an extremely impressive ruling system to manage all these people. Wow! ]
It's complicated. [ And then he catches sight of a bunch of kids in uniform. ] Ah, I heard that in times like these it's normal for all people to receive an education. It's fascinating to actually see it...
[ He isn't going to go down on explaining the ins and outs of property ownership and how government can and cannot play a role today, but maybe another time. ]
May the tide change for you soon. [ Politics is never easy and he is uneasy about the war, but... Claude is here for fun. Jacopo keeps his eyes on the road as he pulls up to a mall. ] It's standard for many countries to provide standard education to everyone. A lot of early years are compulsory and there are laws that punish people for not sending their child to school.
There's weak correlation between access to education and skill of student populations, but at least people can read and write.
[ Just the standards are different now to be educated, however the baseline is literacy he thinks. It's an important one to him, especially.
Once he parks, they can get out. The sunglasses are abandoned because this is going to be an indoor mall. Let's go with somewhere similar to the Le Bon Marché. Seems like the kids are heading there, too. This is their third place. ]
[ WHOA... FANCY... The lights and glamour are impressive (once they're out of the parking lot or the street parking or whatever), and Claude is taking in the crowds around them, their behaviour and interactions with one another and the scenery around them.
Once they get inside, he feels like he stepped into a castle, though it's much nicer than both his own manor and the castle in Fhirdiad. Maybe Edelgard has something like this down in Enbarr. ]
And average people just walk into a place like this?
[ He feels like he's going to lose his mind. How can there be so many riches... Available to so many people? ]
[ It's three floors!!! And they can see the three sets of escalators, too.
With the open ceiling, Claude can easily see people moseying on the upper levels. Shoppers are just walking around, some holding shopping bags. ]
This one is one of the most popular malls, though. One of the first department stores in Paris, too. It consists of three buildings, each with three levels. [ He wobbles his hand. ] The quality here is mid-luxury to high-end, so it's a splurge for most.
[ The kids and younger adults don't seem to have as many bags, or maybe they have very small ones. It can be pricey here. ]
Shall we?
[ Where does Claude want to go? Into a shop? They also have kiosks out in the open. He might get solicited by sales reps. ]
[ Okay, but this is way fancier than any market. This is fancier than any merchant or boutique that Claude has ever frequented, and he's only ever been surrounded by privilege.
Honestly, he feels a little claustrophobic. The only time Claude is ever in a large crowd like this is when he's on a battlefield, and he can feel his paranoia rising a little. Heaven was different; carefully curated and without large volumes of people. But here it becomes obvious that he's surrounded by waves of strangers, without understanding the layout of the land, or any social norms.
He's defenceless... Well, good thing he still has a dagger on him. ]
Right.
[ He's not going to let any of that show though. Jacopo doesn't need to think he's some kind of loser panicking at the mall, so he just keeps focused, fixing his gaze on a shop that seems like it sells clothing and marching toward it.
Time to get a sense of what the people of the time are wearing. ]
[ It's interesting how the mall is both crowded yet such a wide space. THREE buildings of this.
This is Jacopo's normal and he has visited this mall a couple of times, so he stands beside Claude... Maybe observing him, actually. He's the most interesting thing here, whether he likes it in this context or not.
At most, his eyebrows raise when Claude chooses a direction, but he falls into line and walks beside him. Conveniently and strategically on the side where a number of the kiosks and sales rep wait. He buffers and fends the few that approach, telling them that they're not interested in their gold-infused skincare. Even taking a sample is an opening for more badgering. ]
So you can gauge pricing, a kilogram of bananas costs about two point thirty euros.
[ Said quietly as they enter the shop.
There are a couple of people browsing the garments. Jacopo arms stay crossed as he filters to one wing of the shop which is the men's section. Considering he has to cross Claude to do that, he is subtly guiding him to go the same way, too. Kind of like a herding dog. ]
[ Jacopo, I regret to inform you that Claude doesn't know how much bananas cost in Leicester either. He does not purchase his own groceries.
That said, he can estimate that bananas are probably not expensive? So if a kilo of bananas are around £2, then a shirt would like be... £200? That makes sense.
He thinks.
Anyway, he eases up a little once they're in the shop, though he's still taking the time to understand the layout and his surroundings. Obviously, nothing will happen, but it puts his mind more at ease as he follows after Jacopo. ]
There's a lot of options.
[ So many cuts, and silhouettes, and fabrics. ]
I suppose people don't make use of tailors to customize their clothing much anymore.
[ HE HAS NEVER considered a denim jacket. But he would wear one if it fit well. Jacopo will soon learn that Claude prefers an oversized fit as he peers through the articles of clothing, and is not afraid of bold colours of patterns.
He just likes to be comfy. ]
That's not too surprising. Most people in Fódlan would mend their clothes themselves if they needed adjustments.
[ He is observing Claude and taking note on his budding fashion style... While he saw some of it in Heaven, this can supplement.
Blinking, he considers that Claude likes being cozy. Jacopo does, too, but he wore robes meant for status rather than personal taste. He's also looking at the same shirts as Claude, just from his side.
Then his attention flicks to Claude when he looks at him. ]
[ Claude has doesn't often have much liberty over what he wears. Either he's in something to train in, or he's in his Leadership fit, which granted he's customized to his preferences, but is still rather formal.
Tilts his head. ]
Would that make it more or less like you're my dad who's supervising me while I shop?
[ He's teasing. Though, the situation is still a little weird. Jacopo isn't particularly nurturing, but there's no denying that Claude is reliant on him at the moment. Which is not something he's used to being. It's almost be more natural if he was left alone to scout and gather his bearings so that he could return to this interaction with an action plan.
[ Though it might feel that Jacopo is coming around as his guardian. He is Claude's escort, though, but he is lingering out of curiosity than anything. Not like he has to shop... His closet is well supplied and manicured. ]
Shorts above the knees for a hint of sophistication, shorts below the knees for more casual and easy-going.
[ On top of a oversized white dress shirt, he picks a cream one out for Claude. This one is linen with a 3/4 sleeve. ]
[ Shorts seem juvenile to him, regardless of length. Claude isn't self-conscious about his body, only about looking stupid. But then, he does trust Jacopo's opinion, and it seems nice to take advantage of opportunities that he wouldn't get at home.
He accepts the shirt, thumbing over the material. He likes it, though it'd be only one of many layers back home. In fact, he still has a preference for layering, but he understands from his time in heaven that it's common to go out wearing a single shirt. ]
You got an eye for fashion, Jacopo?
[ He wonders what his interests are now in the modern age. Aside from his work. ]
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Was Jacopo this particular about appearance back in heaven? He can't remember. ]
Thanks, mom.
[ Decides to be annoying, but will go to pick shoes. Does he have any sandals? ]
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But then his soul took the appearance of his 19-22 yo self, so he was less prissy about appearance. ]
What I said earlier wasn't an invitation for that kind of play.
[ Jacopo will be checking he has everything from keys to wallet, but Claude can kind that he does have sandals. ]
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Play? You got your mind in the gutter, Jacopo?
[ Actually, he doubt Jacopo even knows what mommy kink is, but it's fun to tease him.
But nice! He will slip on the sandals, completing his lazy casual look. ]
Are we going to travel in your car?
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You're the one with your mind in the gutter, Riegan.
[ a mental smack smack to the wrist bad boy Jacopo knows what it is against his will... Maria and the girls used to talk about their clients and their tastes, but he does mean playing house. Innocent.
With everything in his pocket, he slips into his boat shoes and opens the door. ]
Don't want to experience public transit?
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They are stepping outside... Into the world! Well, it's just a hallway for now. ]
Heaven had those trains, but I've never been in a car.
[ He wants to experience it... ]
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It is just the hallway and he leads Claude to the elevator. ]
Public transport isn't quite the same without it being crowded. [ Heaven is nice in that sense. ] We can take my car.
[ To the underground parking level... Where Claude will have to see that Jacopo owns a black Ferrari, not that it means anything to a medieval man. ]
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Takes a moment to just walk around the car and take in what it looks like, the design and the construction... As much as he can understand just by looking at it. ]
The future is very clean.
[ Neatly paved roads and hard floor. There's no dirt, dust and grime to sneak everywhere and onto everything. ]
Waits to climb into the car. ]
Your old life must seem far away, being in circumstances so different now.
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[ Jacopo doesn't feel that it's clean. If anything, he thinks Paris is kind of dirty, but if he were to compare to back in the day... Then yeah. You don't see rotting bodies spreading disease on the streets here. He's so used to his current life now.
With a push of a button, the car beeps to show it's unlocked. He sidles into the right side on the driver's seat and waits for Claude to settle in. The inside is sleek as the outside and it smells New Car, which should be an interesting scent for Claude. ]
It does. I don't weigh lives to sacrifice for progress anymore. [ GOOD TIMES. ] Some things... Are similar, but in parallels. Far less grave at least. I work my job, I come home, repeat.
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But yes, he gets in the car. Most everything is a new smell to him, so this is also a new... leather smell. He's looking curiously at the displays and the buttons, and is not going to put on his seatbelt because why would he. ]
I'm glad that you're no longer trapped in difficult circumstances. [ Putting his attention to Jacopo now. ] Which you don't need to feel bad about, by the way.
[ Just in case he is. He hasn't yet forgotten the apology, and he doesn't want any unnecessary guilt weighing his friend down. ]
I hope you do something other than work though. Don't you have more free time with your fewer responsibilities?
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[ Demonstrates for him by fastening his own. Stay safe, Claude. He isn't going to belt you unless you really struggle. ]
It weighs as it should. [ He's hyper-aware of all the bad he caused while paving for good. Some of it he can reconcile, some he still shoulders. Such is life in politics, but he seems to be all right. Not as dour as before. Most himself than when he was Lord.
Placing a hand on the steering wheel, he taps it a couple of times. ]
I have a couple of hobbies and when I worked in Italy I did spend time with my friends. [ SOMETHING, RIGHT? ] Less so here. I've been very busy with work.
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Are you out here saving lives?
[ Looking curious. ]
What about it takes up so much time?
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It's time to drive. It's very smooth, though they must share the road with other cars. The sun is at the level where it's beaming them, but Jacopo puts on sunglasses that are in his car and he pulls down the sun visor for Claude's side of the car. ]
To put it simply, I work in an industry that handles land and the property on it. [ Oh, realty. Hopefully, that's enough for Claude to surmise why it takes so long. There are complexities. ] So, no. Not saving lives, just dealing with annoying affluent clients.
[ once upon a time they were both annoying rich people, but now it's just Claude ]
How is the war effort?
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Claude's focus shifts out the window as soon as they're out of the parking lot, taking in the sights of the city, noting the traffic laws. The architecture and pretty much everything else. Paris is old enough that not all of it is completely foreign to him. He'd probably be extremely overwhelmed in like... New York. ]
Property, hm? So you're back in civil service.
[ He figures that there are no longer monarchies, but assumes that land is still managed by the government. Though it'd have to be an extremely impressive ruling system to manage all these people. Wow! ]
It's complicated. [ And then he catches sight of a bunch of kids in uniform. ] Ah, I heard that in times like these it's normal for all people to receive an education. It's fascinating to actually see it...
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[ He isn't going to go down on explaining the ins and outs of property ownership and how government can and cannot play a role today, but maybe another time. ]
May the tide change for you soon. [ Politics is never easy and he is uneasy about the war, but... Claude is here for fun. Jacopo keeps his eyes on the road as he pulls up to a mall. ] It's standard for many countries to provide standard education to everyone. A lot of early years are compulsory and there are laws that punish people for not sending their child to school.
There's weak correlation between access to education and skill of student populations, but at least people can read and write.
[ Just the standards are different now to be educated, however the baseline is literacy he thinks. It's an important one to him, especially.
Once he parks, they can get out. The sunglasses are abandoned because this is going to be an indoor mall. Let's go with somewhere similar to the Le Bon Marché. Seems like the kids are heading there, too. This is their third place. ]
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Once they get inside, he feels like he stepped into a castle, though it's much nicer than both his own manor and the castle in Fhirdiad. Maybe Edelgard has something like this down in Enbarr. ]
And average people just walk into a place like this?
[ He feels like he's going to lose his mind. How can there be so many riches... Available to so many people? ]
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[ It's three floors!!! And they can see the three sets of escalators, too.
With the open ceiling, Claude can easily see people moseying on the upper levels. Shoppers are just walking around, some holding shopping bags. ]
This one is one of the most popular malls, though. One of the first department stores in Paris, too. It consists of three buildings, each with three levels. [ He wobbles his hand. ] The quality here is mid-luxury to high-end, so it's a splurge for most.
[ The kids and younger adults don't seem to have as many bags, or maybe they have very small ones. It can be pricey here. ]
Shall we?
[ Where does Claude want to go? Into a shop? They also have kiosks out in the open. He might get solicited by sales reps. ]
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Honestly, he feels a little claustrophobic. The only time Claude is ever in a large crowd like this is when he's on a battlefield, and he can feel his paranoia rising a little. Heaven was different; carefully curated and without large volumes of people. But here it becomes obvious that he's surrounded by waves of strangers, without understanding the layout of the land, or any social norms.
He's defenceless... Well, good thing he still has a dagger on him. ]
Right.
[ He's not going to let any of that show though. Jacopo doesn't need to think he's some kind of loser panicking at the mall, so he just keeps focused, fixing his gaze on a shop that seems like it sells clothing and marching toward it.
Time to get a sense of what the people of the time are wearing. ]
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This is Jacopo's normal and he has visited this mall a couple of times, so he stands beside Claude... Maybe observing him, actually. He's the most interesting thing here, whether he likes it in this context or not.
At most, his eyebrows raise when Claude chooses a direction, but he falls into line and walks beside him. Conveniently and strategically on the side where a number of the kiosks and sales rep wait. He buffers and fends the few that approach, telling them that they're not interested in their gold-infused skincare. Even taking a sample is an opening for more badgering. ]
So you can gauge pricing, a kilogram of bananas costs about two point thirty euros.
[ Said quietly as they enter the shop.
There are a couple of people browsing the garments. Jacopo arms stay crossed as he filters to one wing of the shop which is the men's section. Considering he has to cross Claude to do that, he is subtly guiding him to go the same way, too. Kind of like a herding dog. ]
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That said, he can estimate that bananas are probably not expensive? So if a kilo of bananas are around £2, then a shirt would like be... £200? That makes sense.
He thinks.
Anyway, he eases up a little once they're in the shop, though he's still taking the time to understand the layout and his surroundings. Obviously, nothing will happen, but it puts his mind more at ease as he follows after Jacopo. ]
There's a lot of options.
[ So many cuts, and silhouettes, and fabrics. ]
I suppose people don't make use of tailors to customize their clothing much anymore.
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Claude can see the shop is separated by gender, but also by articles (top, bottoms, etc.) and colors. He browses with his eyes, tilting his head. ]
They still do. Most get their formal wear tailored, but it's often costly. So not as accessible.
[ If this was Italy, he'd introduce Claude to some tailors, but they are in France. Ever considered a denim jacket before, Claude? ]
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He just likes to be comfy. ]
That's not too surprising. Most people in Fódlan would mend their clothes themselves if they needed adjustments.
[ Looking at shirts... Then at Jacopo. ]
Are you just going to watch me?
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Blinking, he considers that Claude likes being cozy. Jacopo does, too, but he wore robes meant for status rather than personal taste. He's also looking at the same shirts as Claude, just from his side.
Then his attention flicks to Claude when he looks at him. ]
What do you expect me to do? Dress you up?
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Tilts his head. ]
Would that make it more or less like you're my dad who's supervising me while I shop?
[ He's teasing. Though, the situation is still a little weird. Jacopo isn't particularly nurturing, but there's no denying that Claude is reliant on him at the moment. Which is not something he's used to being. It's almost be more natural if he was left alone to scout and gather his bearings so that he could return to this interaction with an action plan.
Anyway, pulls out these shorts. ]
What do you think? Too short?
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[ Though it might feel that Jacopo is coming around as his guardian. He is Claude's escort, though, but he is lingering out of curiosity than anything. Not like he has to shop... His closet is well supplied and manicured. ]
Shorts above the knees for a hint of sophistication, shorts below the knees for more casual and easy-going.
[ On top of a oversized white dress shirt, he picks a cream one out for Claude. This one is linen with a 3/4 sleeve. ]
I do think they suit you.
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[ Shorts seem juvenile to him, regardless of length. Claude isn't self-conscious about his body, only about looking stupid. But then, he does trust Jacopo's opinion, and it seems nice to take advantage of opportunities that he wouldn't get at home.
He accepts the shirt, thumbing over the material. He likes it, though it'd be only one of many layers back home. In fact, he still has a preference for layering, but he understands from his time in heaven that it's common to go out wearing a single shirt. ]
You got an eye for fashion, Jacopo?
[ He wonders what his interests are now in the modern age. Aside from his work. ]
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